Its all about our Values

The classes are over and this week we have our review sessions. And next week… exams- the most dreaded part of our studies… o come on. They are a routine now. After so many reports, assignments, WACs etc I don’t feel any fear for exams.

Today we had Careers Stocktaking Workshop, which would continue over the next day. In this workshop we were asked to focus on our values, our goals, post MBA plans and our future direction. I enjoyed today’s session a lot. The best part was that I recognised my values- I think till yesterday I was not even clear what does the word ‘values’ mean? And in a day I know what my values were. I was so excited and happy, when I realised that I clearly know my values.

Our instructor is Jennifer, a very experienced Cranfield Alumni. She did her MBA in 1993-94 and was here to guide our thought process and help us in deciding where we should focus next.

So what do you mean by values. Of course everyone has different perception and I believe there can be a long debate over the meaning of ‘values’, as it differs from one individual to other. Values are not morals- they are not right or wrong. What I have understood is that values are our beliefs or anything on which we want to spend maximum time of ours. Don’t confuse it with your hobby- hobby is an expression of value. Let me give you an example here. For me my top most value may be ‘Self Recognition’ i.e. I want that whatever I do- whether at work or in my social life I should gain recognition for it. If your value is ‘Money’- it implies that money gives you peace of mind, you are happy when you have loads of money. So money in itself may not be a value, but what you do with money, what positive effects it has on you is actually your value. One of my friends has ‘Honesty’ as his value. That means that he wants to be honest, keep his integrity intact and that’s his foremost priority- that’s his foremost value.

Hope I have been able to make something clear about values. It’s not easy to decide upon what your values are. You need to spend hours and need to think a lot…. And if you don’t wanna make so many efforts, come over to Cranfield- I am sure you will realise your values here.

There is one more easy way, that I have discovered of my own, to find your values. Just think what turns you off. What you don’t like? And then try to find the basic reason for that problem. Another example. I and my friend participated in a business competition. He wanted to gain an edge over other teams by knowing the strategy of last year winners and not through his own knowledge and efforts. I feel that is sacrificing my values of honesty and integrity. Why do u wanna shoot your target by placing your gun on someone else’s shoulder? It hurts me so much. I immediately backed off the competition and let him make strategic decisions. He may win by using others’ expertise, but I hate such wins. I never compete for winning, I compete to gain competence; to gain knowledge and to sharpen my skills. Not to win. After all its not the winning that counts. It’s the effort and the participation, which counts.

My message- decide your values, discover them, and never ever sacrifice them. You are what your values are. So don’t compromise on yourself i.e. don’t compromise on your values.